Going through periods of prolonged stress can be extremely taxing to our minds and bodies. Burnout is a condition characterised by emotional, mental and oftentimes physical exhaustion. It’s brought on by extended periods of stress. It might feel like you are no longer able to keep up with the demands life is asking of you.
Finding someone experienced to talk to about how you are feeling can be a lifeline when it comes to learning how to create balance in your life again. Many people feel a sense of shame and hopelessness during periods of burnout. Reaching out for help is incredibly brave and it’s the first step to regaining a sense of control and balance in your life.
The World Health Organisation recognises burnout as a condition that can occur when we experience lengthy periods of stress. It’s characterised by feelings of emotional, mental, and physical exhaustion.
While stress is a part of life, we aren’t designed to be in a state of prolonged pressure. If you feel like you aren’t able to cope with the demands of your life as it is, you might be suffering from burnout. It's a completely normal and understandable reaction to going through an incredibly stressful time.
There could be many reasons you experience stress for a long period of time. You might have an especially heavy workload, perhaps family life feels particularly tense. You may have lost a loved one, or maybe you are going through a time of financial difficulty.
Burnout can also happen when you live with a chronic illness or are recovering from an illness. Whatever the causes, there are no hard definitions or rules when it comes to your experience. Burnout is different for everyone, and there are many symptoms.
Life and work factors that can contribute to burnout include:
There are also several conditions that can increase the risk of burnout. These include:
Extended periods of anxiety can be very tough on both the body and mind. If you’ve been going through a prolonged period of feeling anxious, you might be more at risk of anxiety burnout. The information on our Anxiety page might be helpful in understanding why you are experiencing burnout symptoms.
Living and working with ADHD comes with its own set of challenges that can feel hard to navigate. Burnout is very common for people with ADHD. Issues with organisation and impulsivity often associated with ADHD can compound symptoms caused by prolonged periods of exhaustion. If you know or suspect you have ADHD, then our ADHD page has some further information to help you understand what you are going through.
Research has shown that autistic burnout is different from the experience of those who are neurotypical. It can severely affect functioning and cause a lowering in the ability to cope with stimuli. Our blog on Autistic Burnout contains valuable information about what it means to suffer from burnout for an autistic person. If you or a loved one feels like that’s what you might be going through, our experienced team of compassionate specialists are right here to help.
Addressing your feelings of burnout is a sign of strength. Reaching out for help means that you are on the path to reclaiming a sense of balance and wellness in your life. You deserve to feel confident, well rested and able to engage with your life fully again.
The path to recovery looks different for everyone. With the right guidance and support, you can learn new strategies to deal with what you are facing.
At The London Psychiatry Clinic, we have a team of dedicated specialists with a wealth of experience dealing with burnout. Our expertise stems from an evidence-based, holistic approach that appreciates you for the unique individual you are. We will work together to develop a treatment plan that is suited to your specific needs and those of your life situation. It’s a collaborative approach based on compassionate listening and understanding.
Here’s what our treatment approach looks like:
Although treatment may vary depending on your symptoms and what you are experiencing, our approach to treatment will also always involve the following:
No matter what may be causing you to experience burnout, we can help. You are only one phone call away from beginning your journey to understanding and managing your symptoms.
There are a few different types of therapy that we use for addressing burnout.
There isn’t a medication that specifically targets burnout. Some people going through burnout might benefit from taking antidepressants to tackle some of the symptoms. Our specialists will always explain every available treatment option to you so that you can make an informed decision. If you and your specialist decide that medication is a pathway worth exploring, it will always be in conjunction with support from talking therapy.
Looking at lifestyle factors and nutrition is a key element of our burnout treatment. Our tools for addressing this include examining factors such as sleep, work, nutrition, exercise and time spent in nature. Together we will look into the places you might be able to make manageable changes to reduce the stress on your body and mind. This might look like establishing a regular nighttime routine, making improvements to your diet and finding ways to spend more time out in nature.
We will always work together, making workable changes that feel right for you. You don’t have to go through burnout alone. We are right here with you.
Going through burnout can feel incredibly isolating and scary, but you don’t have to manage it all alone. Our dedicated team of specialists are here to help you find the best ways to reduce stress and move forward in life. You are only a phone call away from someone who can help. Speak with us today
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